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by Kara Daniel
SUMTER, S.C. (WACH) — Sumter County leaders moved closer Tuesday to temporarily pausing certain major development projects as they work to put new rules in place for solar farms, data centers and battery energy storage facilities.
County Council approved the second reading of three proposed moratorium ordinances that would halt new applications for solar projects, battery energy storage facilities and data centers. If the ordinances receive final approval, the county would stop accepting new applications for those types of projects for 180 days, giving leaders time to create regulations before any new developments move forward.
County Council Chairman James T. McCain Jr. said the goal is to manage growth while ensuring the county attracts the kinds of projects it wants.
“We want industries to come to Sumter, but we want the right industries to come to Sumter,” McCain said.
The push for the moratoriums follows months of public opposition to a proposed 1,700-acre solar farm that county leaders ultimately rejected. McCain said the experience highlighted the need for clearer rules before similar proposals are brought forward.
“We thought we had the best place for it, out in the rural areas, but it was a very large facility. The neighbors were against it, and as it turns out, it just wasn’t feasible to do and we turned it down,” McCain said.
McCain also said, “I think the county council is at a point where we’re not going to accept any solar farms in Sumter County.”
State Sen. Jeff Zell, R-District 36, said Sumter County’s actions could influence how similar issues are handled elsewhere in the state.
Zell said data centers could bring economic opportunities, but he believes more safeguards are needed before those projects move forward.
“If we want growth, data centers are likely gonna come with that,” Zell said. “We just don’t have enough protections in place at this point to protect South Carolinians and Sumter rights.”
The proposed moratoriums still need one final reading before they can take effect.
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